Grave-vault.



H. D. CLARK.

GRAVE VAULT.

APPLICATION FILED MAII.3I. Isls.

1,230,1 15. Patented June 19, 1917.

I I I I! If j?? IIIIIHIII II y srars rnanr HUBERT D. CLARK,.0F COLUMBUS, OHIO.

GRAVE-vanua Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 19, 1917.

Application led March 31, 1916. Serial No. 88,1152.

ful Improvements in Grave-Vaults, of which.

the following isa'sp'ecification.

My invention relates to grave vaults and is particularly directed to the improvement of a lock designed to be used in connection with the parts of a grave vault for holding them permanentlyin their locked positlon after they have been made to incase the retop, sides mains.

My invention is-particularly directed to simplifying these locks and to also make them occupy as small space as possible and at the saine time bearing in mind a construction which will render them proof against tampering by unauthorized persons.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a vault shown in section, my improved type of lock being also shown in section,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken through my improved type of lock,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken through the structure shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4-.4 ofV Fig. 2, and,

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of la pin used by me for holding 'the parts in their inoperative position durin shipment.

In these several views, ie top or hood is shown at 1 andthe base is designated by the reference numeral 2. The hood comprises a and ends las is usual, and the sides and ends. flare outwardly as is shown at 3 and these fiares are then bent inwardly as at 4 and given a slight upturn as shown at 5. This flared portion of the hood is designed to coperate with the locks carried by the base to be presently described, to hold the two sections intheir locked position. base itself comprises a top plate 6 whose marginal ortions are all bent down as is shown at and then out as shown at 8 to form 'a seat for the inturned portions 4 of the hood,

In order to prevent the ends of the flat sections from warping out of shape, I have Thel located my locking structure in theextreme end portions of the base. In this manner,

the locking bolt is effective at each corner and thereby prevents these corner portions from warping. The locking structure itself comprises latch bolts 9 each provided with a tongue portion 10 which projects through cut out portions 11 in the vertical walls 7 of the base. The upper surface of each of these tongues -is curved slightly as is shown at 12,

while their under surfaces 13 are straight,`

this arrangement being resorted to so that when the hood is placed in position, it will force the latch bolts rearwardly and after the hood has assumed its operative position to permit the projection of the bolts, the.

straight under surfaces will prevent removal of the top. In order to shift these latch bolts automatically upon the assumptionof the proper position of the hood, I have formed each latch bolt with a horizontally disposed cut-out or hollowed-out portion 14 in which is located the coil spring 15. One end of each of these springs is made to bear against the vertical wall 16 found in each latch bolt, while the rear end of each of these springs bears agaii st the portion 17 of Z-shaped clips 18. The leg 19 of each of these clips is ri idly secured to' the vertical end wall 7 of t e base, while theJ other leg 20 lies in such position ywith respect to the open side of the cut-out portion 14 as to form an inclosure or housing for preventing the` shifting of the spring 15. It will be noted that the vertical'wall 16 against which the opposite end of each spring bears is provided with a central center projection 21 for holding the spring in its' centered position. In order to render the operation .of the bolt more frictionless, I have' provided the upper and lower portions of each of the latch bolts with wearing surfaces 22 and 23 arranged to project slightly beyond the level of the remainder of the body portion of the latch bolt. The under wearing surface 22 of each of these bolts, also serves as a stop shoulder engagingthe vertical portion 7 of the base beneath the cut-out portion 11. I have also provided the upper surface 6 of. the base with a plurality of apertures 24 correspond ing in number with the number of latch bolts. Each of the latch bolts is also provided with an aperture as is shown at 25 and when it is desired to render these latch bolts inoperative, they may be retracted against the tension of the springs 15 and held in such retracted position by the insertion of the pins as illustrated at 26 and as shown in detail in Fig. 5. Fig. 2 shows the extended position of the latch bolts in full lines and the retracted position in broken or dotted lines. The space below the aperture 25 in each of the latch bolts is also hollowed out as is shown at 27 to lighten each of the latch bolts and alsoto permit a space into` also4 closed as is shown at 31 andinthis manner it is absolutely impossible to render the latch bolts inoperativewhen once they have assumed their locking position after the hood is in the position shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description, taken in Y connection with thel accompanying sheets of drawings, itwill be apparent'that I have provided a very efficient type of grave vault lock -and also that this lock may be made at comparatively small cost.

What I claim, is: l

A grave vault comprising a top member, a base member whose marginal portions are bent down substantially at right angles, said marginal portions being provided with a series of cut outs, and latch bolts carried by said base member and arranged to engage the top member, said latch bolts being-designed to pass through said cut outs, a depending lug on said bolts arranged to en-- gage the edge of said cut outs to form a stop limiting the outward movement of the bolts, said bolts having a horizontally disposed cut out portion through a substantial portion of their lengths, a spring located in each of saidcut out portions and arranged to bear on one end yof its respective bolt, and a Z- shaped clip extending into each of'said cut out portions and rigidly carried by one of said members against which the opposite ends of said springs bear.

In testimony whereof1 I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HUBERT D. CLARK. 

